I cheered when I learned of First Lady Michelle Obama's new initiative, Let's Move, aimed at the mounting epidemic of childhood obesity. It's a major breakthrough for government to address obesity's systemic causes. Up until now, we've held the absurd expectation that we can address a nationwide health crisis by expecting individuals one-by-one-one to deploy willpower to fight off an avalanche of subsidized, cheap and harmful foods, made palatable by food scientists, and proffered by multi-million dollar ad campaigns. Thank you, First Lady, Michelle Obama. This is what accountable, proactive government looks like.
America is a consumer-based culture. We take a lot of things in, but we don't often examine what they are or what they are doing to us. As authors like Michael Pollan, and doctors like Mehmet Oz, Dean Ornish, Andrew Weil, Mark Hyman, Joseph Mercola and many others have pointed out--we pay with our health when we thoughtlessly take in unhealthy foods.
To use Pollan's term, we don't know where our food comes from. We don't bother to read the ingredients on a food label. Nor do we look critically at the marketing and advertising that manipulate us to consume what's harmful. Why is there a plethora of conflicting food advice? Because, over the last hundred years, our habits of life have been so influenced by industrialization, advertising, and the media, that most of us can no longer rely on plain old common sense to guide us to the right food choices.
That's why countless books, years of research, millions of dollars, and thousands of blogs have to prove what once common sense could have told us. Leading researchers like Harvard endocrinologist, Dr. David Ludwig, MD (and pioneering fats researcher Dr. Mary Enig, PhD) have demonstrated exactly how low value carbs, transfats, sodas, and fast food have contributed to the obesity epidemic that drives up health costs. As a result of these patterns of food consumption, Ludwig's studies also show that the next generation will be less long-lived than their parents, the first time this has occurred.
These and other scientific studies will be invaluable in revising the food pyramid, a much needed change which the First Lady is thankfully initiating. If Michelle Obama succeeds in changing the foods available to school children, I would consider it one of the most significant improvements made by this administration. That and speaking in English, rather than in tongues.
Addressing our health crisis systemically is long overdue.
In last year's book, The End of Overeating, David Kessler MD, documented how food industry scientists deliberately manipulate our taste-buds, leading many to crave and eat food ingredients that are at best nutritionally valueless, and at worst harmful, such as trans-fats, and high fructose corn syrup, proffered into ersatz creations that seduce people into weight gain.
Here was a former head of the FDA, once in a position to initiate changes in the regulations and practices that put harmful foods within easy reach. But instead of addressing systemic contributors to unhealthy food consumption, he writes yet another health advice book, leaving it to you, me, and our children to resist harmful foods on our own.
If we had a pro-health culture, the absurdity of this would be obvious.
But up until now, unless there's a flu scare, we overlook the long term health consequences of industrial policies, business practices, and areas of governmental regulation, that may negatively impact the health of millions of people. American individualism is a great strength--but if we trust it's authenticity, there's no reason to fear systemic interventions that make it easier, rather than harder for all of us to lose weight, maintain health, and stroll off into the sunset when we are good and ready. In Michelle Obama, we now have a health champion.
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Love from Mexico
Just were whale watching and snorkeling!
It is a joy to read your blogs
They lift .. are compassionate .. and are well written
Joyfully,
Ed
Thanks for your kind words.
I guess no one needs to help you guys figure out how to spend a new moon and the Chinese New Year.
Whale watching and snorkeling-- totally great activiities.
Happy Tiger Year, Losar, Shivaratri, and Valentine's Day!
Alison
Straining during defecation is epidemic in Western societies and injures autonomic nerves - nerves to your organs. Obese children have huge difficulty; 1% of adults "go" less than once per week; 0.1% "go" less than once per month - but there is much effort in between !
Bottle-fed infants injure their pancreas and spleen resulting in type 1 DM and acute leukaemia. Toddlers at toilet-training can do immense damage. Adolescents mess up their pelves. The elderly cuase themselves "autoimmune disease" by stripping their autonomic nerves (particularly women after two children and a hysterectomy).
Western diseases are prevented by proper diets, bowel habits, exercise, posture, gait and childbirth.
The FIrst Lady is well-qualified to discuss these matters - let her get on with it ! She may help herself by talking to Tom Harkin first.
www.bristolanatomycourse.co.uk
Thank you so much for sharing this poignant moment of your mother's illness and the awareness it brings. Among all the people I know who have come forward to work on improving the way we do healthcare, there isn't a single one who hasn't experienced this wake-up call moment.
I call it being "drafted."
Now you see things in our environment in an entirely different way. This takes courage. Especially when many people don't want to allow themselves to see what you are noticing either because it's too painful or scary. Or because they don't want their job, business, or company to be jeopardized by having to address this problem.
I'm writing a book that I hope will make it easier to help others wake up to this. I'm working on the chapter on this right now and with your permission would like to quote you.
My weekly ezine at www.healthjournalist.com covers the science and culture of health leading to action. Please sign up!
Best wishes,
Alison
Because this obesity epidemic has already caused one in the realm of type 2 diabetes, which will completely decimate America's health care system if not controlled.
Diabetes is a pernicious disease, not only because it sneaks up on you and grabs you before you know it, but also because it spurs other disease states, such as heart disease, cancer, asthma, etc.
For more about the obesity/diabetes connection and important symptoms of diabetes, read this:
http://bit.ly/ObesityDiabetes
Yep.
Jgarma
A high quality instructor or world-class coach during the intake program phase brings it to the attention of candidates the anticipated life changes (internalization) that occur during successful stage one program completion. The First Lady’s obesity presentation was well done!
I'm reading a book right now about health, weigh loss, and the mind-body connection: "The MindBody FX Lifestyle." (www.mindbodyfx.com/ or http://www.mindbodyfx.com/ -- I never know which will work here!). In it, the author talks about the statistics we face, INCLUDING the sobering ones that have led MO to pick up this cause: one-third of children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or at risk of becoming so, a stat that's nearly tripled since the '70s, she says. She also says about 25 percent of American live completely sedentary lives, which I find deplorable. Then again, I exercise 5 days a week. And I'm still a titch overweight! So I have a ways to go. The book isn't all gloom and doom -- it talks about overcoming emotional eating and includes an easy-to-follow nutrition plan.
We have to start somewhere. We need to get going and I hope the added attention gets people thinking.
1) Correct labelling on all food. We should know when our food is filled with growth hormones and antibiotics. We should have the choice to pay more and get nutritious food.
2) We need to rid our food supply and drinking water of plastics NOW. Our children are in real peril. How much you want to bet that ADHD, autism, diabetes, etc. are created by the chemicals / plastics in what we eat and crink? Artificial sweetners/high fructose are contained in even "healthy" foods. For the first time ever, future generations will have a shorter life span than now. In addition, health care costs will skyrocket more than ever before. (Thank you, pharmaceutical industry!)
The bottom line in our world now is money--at the expense of the very life systems that give us sustenance. You think the people who are motivated by money and greed give a rat's a** whether you or I are healthy? Government MUST intervene.
Obviously, that's not the case. The foods that our kids eat and that we eat have already been messed with-- and are shown by science to cause serious and costly health problems, along with shortened life span.
No one is taking fast foods off the market, and if some parents wish to eat them or serve them to their kids, they can do so either occasionally as families transition to healthier foods, or if they wish to, every single day. I don't applaud that choice, but it's certainly the right of parents to eat what they choose.
However, if anyone eating such foods harbors the illusion that they are "free" and no one is going to tell them what to do, they are sadly mistaken.
Because advertisers and marketers have already intervened in their food choices by manipulating their taste buds. The government is helping to rebalance a loss of freedom and health that has already occurred.
Khushi
www.bloggermoms.com
I'm really impressed by your question, and feel the quandary that you and other parents are in.
Here's the deal: Basic good food is relatively easy to find-- it's in the produce aisles of most supermarkets.
But we've been taught and we've taught our kids that food comes in a package.
We therefore look for food in a package.
We'd feel better if a package label assured that the food was okay.
But that's unlikely to happen because the best foods don't come in packages. They are in the produce aisles. It all boils down to what author Michael Pollan wrote, 'Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."
No label is necessary when we choose between string bean and avocado, unless we're buying organic.
But we do have to learn what our family members like, and prepare healthy foods in tasty ways. Does your child like crunchy or creamy, strong or mild tastes? You can learn to match fruits and vegetables to his or her food preferences. It's a bit more work, I admit so one step at a time.
Go here for guides as to the best value foods in season: http://www.fieldtoplate.com/product_listing.php?cat_id=46
Alison
I wouldn't automatically buy the claim that offering nutritious food options is an invasive violation of parents' rights. Where are the parents protesting for the right to feed their children junk food? My guess is that when people relent and feed junk food, it's because they are over-worked, financially strapped, and don't have the wherewithal to withstand their kids' pleas for it. I don't see these people protesting when the school helps nourish their kids.
Still before you consider that Utah went overboard with a libertarian concern, (some of which have validity) listen to this: In New York State just this last week, a legislator introduced a proposed law that would permit schools to vaccinate under-age children for sexually transmissable diseases without parental knowledge or consent. In short, if a five year old said okay that was deemed informed consent-- without any look into the medical history.
Now that violates parental rights. Fortunately, the bill was killed.
I applaud Mrs. Obama for her efforts in bringing health and fitness back to schools. Unfortunately we are in lean times and many think these types of programs are fat.
As for NY, I can see why some law makers might propose vaccination in schools. Many parents are not educated about vaccines to make a logical choice or in some cases don't take the time to learn what's best for kids. At least make an informed choice. I don't agree with no parent consent. 1 in 4 with STDs is unacceptable but again it starts with education in the home.
But it looks like self-help may be the only help we will be getting in the area of health care.
The insurance mega-corps won, and the People lost, again.
Very sad, because that means people are going to continue to suffer, go bankrupt, and die unnecessarily.
One would think that the common government could do something about that.
Apparently not.
Heart disease, cancers, diabetes will all be lessened as well in turn. If diseases such as these can be prevented (which many can) that will lesson the financial burden and in many cases will ease the frequency in which we need our health care.
Let's get to it!!!
I completely agree with you and appreciate your enthusiasm about this. And you've done a superb summary of the many interlinking problems that can be addressed through this basic shift.
But in researching food nutrition in schools in New York, I was shocked to learn that a large percentage of children eat their only meal of the day at school. This is due to the economy, to busy working parents, single parent households, and other factors. Also in many areas, produce is not available-- though where it is, studies show that this lowers the risk of obesity.
As a health journalist and health coach for two decades, I've reported on a lot of health advice, and I strongly believe in empowering people to be proactive about their health and that of their families.
But along with individual action, we also need a shift in incentives and infrastructures to make that easier. My hope is that the first lady will be able to accomplish that.
Alison
www.healthjournalist.com
The bottom line is that change is hard, people don't take to it well, and with topics such as health people often are very defensive about it. Eating healthy is also very time consuming too. We cook nearly every meal at home in my house, many recipes from scratch. It takes time! Time is something people are short of as well. It really is a vicious circle for many. A lot of folks are in need of something to get the fire lit under there butts that make them WANT to be healthier, or at least want their children to be healthier. Hopefully this initiative will do that!.
My only concern is that the food industry still has the potential to act as foxes in the henhouse. For instance, major food service corporations have agreed to work to reduce sugar, salt and fat in school food over 5 years. 5 years? More tinkering with processed food? Why not have these big businesses agree to support Farm to School programs and to source more food locally/ regionally instead? This would support smaller farmers, improve local economies and be better for the environment.
All in all, I'm hopeful. I'm also ready to roll up my sleeves and do what it takes to make this initiative work!
You make an excellent point. Farm to school programs benefit children, families, education, agriculture, health, health costs, and the economy-- and probably a lot more. When I covered Drs. Mehmet Oz, Dean Ornish, Andrew Weil, and Mark Hyman when they testified before a Senate subcommittee, this very initiative was discussed.
In school food programs, ketchup is considered a vegetable, because sadly, despite the beauty of our country, many kids are unfamiliar with vegetables, or don't have access to them.
Of course, the industries you mention will say that it will take them five years to turn their production processes around; from their standpoint, that could seem reasonable.
Until you ask yourself this question: "What is five years in the life of a child..?" The age from five to ten when food habits are formed? The age from ten to fifteen when kids rely more on peers than parents in their food choices?
How many kids will become obese as we wait five years?
Alison
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Not all school districts outsource their food service to these management companies.The schools that have made the most positive changes so far have been, for the most part, self operated.
Thanks for sharing that information.
Do you by any change know why did they vote them down..? I mean what reason did they give?
Alison